“India, having successfully implemented one of the fastest 5G rollouts, is now poised to shape the future of 6G with standards that are inclusive, accessible, and affordable for all,” said Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Communications and Development of the Northeastern Region at the second day of the eighth edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024, Asia’s largest telecom, media and technology forum.
On the second day of the event, attention was drawn to futuristic technologies, the integration of artificial intelligence across sectors and the development of India's telecommunication potential. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, IMC 2024 runs concurrently with the International Telecommunication Union’s World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (ITU-WTSA) and features participation from over 120 countries.
6G Ambitions And India's Telecom Leadership
The highlight of Day 2 was the inauguration of the International 6G Symposium by Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, wherein, Scindia outlined India's ambitions to lead the global 6G revolution. He stressed that after the successful rollout of 5G, India is now poised to influence the development of inclusive and affordable 6G standards, making a substantial contribution to global cybersecurity and telecommunications regulation.
Opensignal Unveils Telecom Smart Cities Index
Opensignal unveiled its Telecom Smart Cities Index, ranking 50 Indian cities based on their mobile infrastructure readiness for smart city transformation. Srinagar, Agra, Faridabad, Jaipur and Patna emerged as the top 5 cities in terms of 4G/5G availability, consistent network quality and download speeds.
Focus On 5G And Beyond
A key feature of the second day was a workshop with academicians from 5G test labs, aimed at enhancing indigenous 5G network development for 5G+/6G standards. The discussions covered the role of enterprise private networks, network transformation and applications for industries such as healthcare, agriculture, smart grids and education. Live demonstrations showcased 5G use cases in industrial settings.
The event also featured sessions on AI’s role in industries such as semiconductors, telecommunications, cybersecurity and cloud computing. Panels explored topics including AI-driven autonomous networks, AI-enhanced chipsets and advances in generative AI.
The IMC 2024 hosted over 100 sessions, with topics ranging from satellite communication to cybersecurity. The focus of the event remained on the impact of emerging technologies such as AI and 5G/6G on society and the economy. Industry experts discussed the expanding role of telecom service providers in ensuring cybersecurity and the decarbonisation of the digital infrastructure to foster a sustainable digital future.